| November 28, 2008 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 29, 1429 |
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PCB appointments
KESC bills
Analysis of a ‘conspiracy’
Slow poisoning
Building dams is necessary
Stock exchange
Benefiting from scientist’s expertise
Bank strength
Costlier credit
Juvenile delinquency in Britain
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
I could not agree more with Mr Hamid Ali Qureshi’s letter, published in your esteemed daily on Nov 23 pertaining to Liaquat Ali Khan’s visit to the United States in May, 1950.
Ironically, a lot of mud slinging has gone on over the years by a select group of “intelligentsia” against the first Prime Minister of Pakistan that by ignoring the USSR government’s invitation and opting for the US instead, Liaquat Ali is chiefly responsible for throwing Pakistan into the US camp.
I would like to quote from a number of books about the real situation. Ex-Ambassador Shahid Amin has rightly pointed out in his worthwhile book ‘Pakistan’s Foreign Policy A Reappraisal’ (published by Oxford University Press in 2000) that “It should be noted that in international diplomacy, invitations are often extended but not always availed. Failure to visit a country in response to its invitation has hardly ever become the cause of long-term estrangement” (p42, chapter 2).
Author Muhammad Reza Kazmi has dealt with this subject in admirable detail in his lucid work titled Liaquat Ali Khan His Life and Work (Second impression published by OUP in 2004). Chapter 10 of the mentioned work researches this episode in immaculate detail. To quote from the book: “During his first press conference in America, when he was questioned about his proposed visit to the USSR, Liaquat replied: ‘No date for my visit has yet been fixed. As soon as it is, I shall certainly not fail to inform the United States Press…During a press conference on 23 August 1950, the following exchange took place:
Q. Is the Moscow invitation also under your active consideration?
A. I cannot go until those people who invited me fix a date and ask me to go on such a date.
Q. They look to your convenience?
A. Evidently not. They look to their own convenience. The invitation came. Later on, they suggested 14 August 1949. I replied that this is our Independence Day. I can come on any date after that. After that they have not replied.”
This in Liaquat’s own words was the story of the Soviet invitation.
Considering this scenario I would like to point out that relationships between countries have their ups and downs during course of time and any one incident cannot be blamed for continued animosity between countries. Jawaharlal Nehru visited the US in 1949, nearly six years before making his first trip to the Soviet Union.
Pakistan and China have had the best of relationships over the years. The two states established diplomatic relations in 1949, but the first summit level visits were exchanged between Suhurwardy and Chou-En-Lai in 1956. The boundary and aviation agreements were signed in 1963. People who accuse one of our founding fathers for this “diplomatic blunder” must remember that the Soviet Union did not display any feeling of bitterness towards Pakistan at any international forum from 1947 to 1953.
The relationship came under cloud only after Pakistan’s joining of SEATO and CENTO in 1954 and 1955 respectively.
Still the ice started melting after President Ayub Khan’s landmark visit to Moscow in 1965. The relations improved to such an extent that USSR not only sponsored the Tashkent Agreement between India and Pakistan, but also helped finance the founding of our largest industrial complex i.e. Pakistan Steel.
The ties then understandably deteriorated after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
UMAR M. MAKHDUMI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Syed Aqeel Sarwar’s letter “Professionals in PCB’’ (Nov 25). In his letter Mr Aqeel mentioned that PCB is heading in the right direction after appointing former cricketers at its top positions.
I am surprised by this statement because if former cricketers are the right people to get top positions at PCB then what jobs should be assigned to the Post-graduates and Doctorates of management? I can understand the appointment of former cricketers as coaches, scouts, and selectors because these jobs require cricketing knowledge but I wonder what cricketing knowledge is required for posts such as Director Human resource and administration (Waseem Bari) and Chief Executive Officer (Saleem Altaf). Even the chairman of PCB should not necessarily be a former cricketer because that job requires Management skills and not cricketing skills. If the chairman of PCB should be a former cricketer then why is not a waiter or a chef the manager of a five star hotel?
Secondly Mr Aqeel’s opinion is to change our national captain Shoaib Malik as captain of the team because he is not the best performer in our team. I wonder why India is going through such a top revelation under Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the 20-twenty World Cup, recently defeating the mighty Australians, and are currently leading England 5-0 in a seven match one day series. With players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Virender Sehwag in the Indian team Dhoni is surely not the best performer in the side.
Lastly Mr Aqeel is of the opinion that PCB should lift the ban on players playing in the ICL. Surprisingly all those players playing in the ICL knew before joining the ICL that they will be banned for life and will never again play for Pakistan if they join ICL yet they did so which is a clear indication of how much love they have for their country. Instead of lifting ban on them why not reward players like Sohail Khan and others with a place in the national team since they rejected offers from the ICL. Even Shoaib Akhtar who is always criticized for his commitment in the team rejected an offer from ICL. So why should the PCB lift ban on those players and not reward these players with a place in the team?
JONAID AFTAB TAJ
Peshawar
LAST month the government announced 40 per cent cut in the KESC bill in response to public uproar that followed the government’s approval of increasing per unit charges for KESC bills and removal of subsidy.
However, by the time the announcement reached far and wide, a large number of consumers had already paid the KESC bill for which the government gave an assurance that the overpaid bills would be adjusted, and it happened this month.
However, I am seeing a big flaw in adjustment that I would hope the KESC authorities will clarify.
Assuming that my bill for October was Rs2,000 (overcharged electricity bill) that after GST amounted to Rs2,320 (excluding other charges for simplification). However, this month the amount adjusted by the KESC was only Rs800, which means my electricity charges for October should have been Rs1,200 (40 per cent of Rs2,000) and hence when the GST is applied to adjusted charges, it sums up to Rs192.
Now, I would like to ask the KESC authorities as to where did the difference between previously charged GST, i.e. Rs320, and the GST based on adjusted charges, i.e. Rs192, go? The difference in my case is not very big but it still exists. I would like to ask the KESC where would this difference of Rs128 be adjusted?
I hope other KESC consumers will also raise their concern about the matter and seek a clarification.
DISSATISFIED KESC CONSUMER
Karachi
READING the report, “Analysis of a ‘conspiracy’”, by your correspondent Imran Ayub brought tears into my eyes, because it managed to capture to some extent the plight of the eight children who had been abandoned by their mothers (Nov 21).
However, the statement of Sindh’s Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, who was quoted as saying that the whole thing was “a conspiracy against the elected PPP government,” was an affront.
What, in his opinion, should the mothers concerned have done to prove that this wasn’t a conspiracy: should they have killed the children or themselves, to prove that it was impossible for them to feed those kids?
How about the many other parents who have been taking their own or their offspring’s lives, or trying to sell them, or to dispose of their kidneys — were all those incidents also a schemes to defame the government? According to official statistics, the latest figure for inflation is around 25 per cent, which is the highest ever. Isn’t that evidence enough that the poor people and even the middle class ones are having an excruciating existence?
The real conspiracy is the obstructing of the return of a truly independent and fearless judiciary, led by the deposed CJP Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, because that doesn’t suit some of our politicians. Such a judiciary wouldn’t allow anyone to engage in any wrongdoing.
It would also keep the leaders, bureaucracy and other elite from hurting the interests of the common man, besides preventing military dictatorship from reappearing.
Above all, it would promote real democracy and good governance. Instead of shutting their eyes to reality, people like Mr Soomro should show true sympathy for the countless poor who are contemplating suicide, while the SUVs, expensive cars and motorcades of the rulers whiz by.
To be fair to the PPP, the problem is not entirely of its creation but partly a carryover from the previous regime. But, calling ministers from a Malaysian meeting to Dubai by Mr Zardari was unacceptable. Or, spending Rs10 million of his own money for taking 100 to 200 people for ‘Umra’ was not an obligatory duty, but saving lives of hungry people is.
A CITIZEN
Karachi
I WAS traumatized to learn through Mr Badar Jatoi’s letter, “Pakistan’s standard on sugar quality” (November 26), how the sugar manufacturers have been slow-poisoning the people of Pakistan for the last many years by producing substandard sugar which is detrimental to their health. Surprisingly they have formed a cartel “The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association” to pressurize the authorities so as to get government’s decision of standardization sugar by December 31st deferred, on a frivolous ground.
I agree with Mr Badar that the health of even an individual is valuable than the whole cost of equipments which are required to be planted in the factories to standardize sugar.
I therefore request the government not to succumb before the lobby of voracious ‘sugar barons’, who are selling substandard sugar in the market for the last many years only to mint hefty profits obviously at the cost of public health. I also entreat the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of substandard sugar sold by the factories in the market in the greater interest of public.
RAFIQUE AHMED SIDDIQUE
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Mushtaque Rajpur’s letter, ‘Basha: don’t waste $12.6 billion’. Emphasis was laid on the fact that the country is on the verge of default on its foreign liabilities, inflation running high at 25 per cent, cities and villages forced to live without power, so the government should not waste such a huge amount by building dams.
He also claims that power generation is not a big issue in today’s world, but it is as far as Pakistan is concerned. Electricity is the soul of any country’s economy, and dams nourish that soul. Other than power generation, dams have a vital role in controlling floods, storing and providing water for irrigation, as well as in creating jobs for the local community.
China, for example, has around 19,000 large dams. The US is the second country with most dams with some 5,500 large dams, followed by the ex - USSR, Japan and India. Brazil occupies the 10th place with around 516 large dams.
Regarding Mr Rajpur’s argument to let the private sector (IPPs) play its role in generating power in Pakistan, I would like to say that such production of power is too costly for the common people to buy. Private giants can afford power plants but what would become of more than 2,000 closed cottage industries all over Pakistan?
However, he is absolutely right that Pakistan needs more schools, health, social safety nets, food subsidies to fight hunger. Building dams is the first step to answer all these primary issues.
Alfred Armand once said: “The majority sees the obstacles; the few see the objectives; history records the successes of the latter, while oblivion is the reward of the former.” This is not time to avoid the problem but to solve it.
Investing a huge amount once for all is ultimately beneficial to the people of Pakistan.
S IRTAZA ARIF
Lahore
It is believed that Archimedes, to explain the enormous mechanical advantage gained by using a lever to move things said “Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth!”
Right now it appears there is nothing firmer than the ‘Floor’ of the Karachi Stock Exchange! Here is a collection of news items about the ‘floor’ from the business section of the Dawn in chronological order.
Steep decline in stocks turnover figure-11/12/2008
Stock market stays flat despite discount rate hike-11/13/2008
Stock indices break inertia on likely removal of ‘floor’- 11/14/2008
80 days of market closure, still counting! - 11/16/2008
Traders hold back stocks to avert price fall - 11/17-2008
KSE: confounding the confusion- 11/19/2008
Making informed ‘price discovery’ of stocks- 11/21/08
Major players desert stock market - 11/21/08
KSE 100-share index breaks inertia, up 3 points-11/22/2008
KSE remains a deserted place for investors:/11/25/2008:
End to stock stalemate not in sight- 11/26/2008
And the saga continues...
B.K. VASAN
Chicago
SHAFIQ Ahmed wrote in these columns on Nov 15, suggesting the appointment of Dr Khushnood Ahmed Siddiqui as the vice chancellor of Agriculture University, Tandojam. Mr Ahmed highlighted a few of the qualifications of Dr Siddiqui, to which I wish to add. He is today counted by the world community of agricultural and biological scientists as one of the top achievers not only of Pakistan, but of the world.
He is a product of the Agriculture College, Tandojam, the precursor of the present-day university. After getting his basic degree with distinction, he went on to earn a PhD from the University of Reading, England, a post-doctorate from the National Research Council, Canada, and a post-doctorate from the Danish Atomic Energy Commission.
Dr Siddiqui then went on to earn a DSc from the University of Reading, England, with the citation: “Futuristic visions and revision of paradigms of information technology connected with environmental issues and efficient sustainable development of agriculture, biotechnology and genetic engineering for 21st century”. He is recognized as the first DSc of the new millennium.
Dr Siddiqui served the Atomic Energy Commission at its Tandojam centre, and retired as the director of the Atomic Energy Agricultural Research Centre, Tandojam, research professor and PhD guide, establishing his credentials as an academician, researcher and administrator. His research contributions include evolution of high quality wheat varieties used by farmers of Sindh. He has tutored several students for their PhD in the field of genetics.
Pakistan’s future economic development is heavily dependent on its agricultural development which, in turn, is dependent on human resource development. I can say that the route to Pakistan’s progress will pass through our universities which can nurture and produce high quality scientists to educate our farming community, carry out research and development and transfer the advanced technologies to the farmers for higher production. People like Dr Siddiqui are sought after in other countries but sadly here in Pakistan he is living in Tandojam unrecognised. The government is urged to utilise his services.
SYED ABU KHALID
Karachi
AS a depositor I have been reading with great concern about the international financial meltdown and its impact on banks. Recent reports about some local banks facing financial problems have worried depositors, leading to withdrawal of deposits.
I have my deposit with NIB Bank which I view as a strong and well managed bank. This has now been further substantiated when I learnt that NIB is increasing its capital to become the highest capital bank in the country.
The majority shareholder in NIB, who I understand is an investment company owned by the government of Singapore, has committed to take large increase in NIB’s capital.
If the majority shareholder of NIB can invest huge amount into NIB’s capital, depositors should take note as this considerably strengthens NIB balance sheet. The State Bank should also urge other sponsors of banks to also increase their capitals.
M YAQUB PECHI
Karachi
YOUR editorial of the 14th instant endorses the State Bank’s decision to increase interest rate by two per cent when in some countries interest rates have dropped to almost two per cent (as against our 15 per cent).
Like many ‘non - economists’, I would have thought that an alternative to combating inflation was to let prices of essential items fall to correspond with the prices the world over.
Until a few days back, in the US oil price was lowered to $2.5 from $4 per gallon.
One can buy a used car at almost half the price quoted two months earlier and even a new car at a substantial discount. As against this, our car manufacturers have increased prices of their vehicles.
To suggest, for example, to allow import of used or new cars (at lower prices) would sound blasphemous and, therefore, this option could not be for us.
On second thoughts I should know that this is not for Pakistan also (or mainly) because we must fulfil the IMF’s conditions for its bailout.
M. TAHER PUNJWANI
Karachi
IT was truly shocking to read the report by Reuters (Nov 18) that more than 50 per cent of the Britons think their country’s children are beginning to behave like animals and many believe that they are increasingly a danger to adults and each other.
Martin Narey, the chief executive of the charity which commissioned this survey, said: “It is appalling that words like ‘animal,’ ‘feral’ and ‘vermin’ are used daily in reference to children. These are not references to a small minority of children but represent the public view of all children.”
In one of the most shocking cases, three teenagers were found guilty in January of murdering Gary Newlove, a father of three, whom they beat to death after he confronted them outside his house about vandalism they had caused.
The survey found 49 per cent of the 2,021 people surveyed though children now posed more of a danger to their peers and to adults, with 43 per cent saying something had to be done to protect them from youngsters. It also showed that 54 per cent thought children were beginning to behave like animals and 45 per cent agreed that people referred to kids as feral (wild or untamed) because they behaved that way. If memory serves, the then British PM Tony Blair had used this same term for those politicians who were demanding his resignation.
Some Britons are unhappy about what they consider to be vilification of the children, which, they say, doesn’t help the kids. However, I feel one cannot hope to overcome a problem unless one is willing to face reality and call a spade a spade.
The findings of this poll are also incidentally reflected in a very thought-provoking article (The Review, Nov 20 - 26) by Mehreen F. Ali, titled ‘Childhood lost’.
She has taken note of the same problem and presented a first - hand perspective, while citing some other examples of the British kids’ destructive behaviour.
In the end, Ms Ali has made a telling observation that we, in Pakistan, do have large numbers of homeless, poverty - stricken, blue - collar children, but they are still a step removed from the sadistic cult of their western counterparts.
She says that crime by the young is certainly committed here, but perhaps more out of comprehensible shortcomings poverty, hunger, greed, rather than for diabolical kicks.
One would like to add a few observations. Some time back there was another story in Dawn about how the British teenagers were getting prone to binge drinking and drugs, while another one highlighted the rising incidents of knife crimes. However, a third one had shown that more and more women over there are now preferring to stay at home to give a proper upbringing to their children, because they have come to realise that being away at work hampers it greatly.
Another thing is that in Pakistan there seems to be a growing incidence of youths engaged in eve - teasing, taking offence to being reprimanded and killing those who try to stop them. This is a sure sign of breakdown of morals and can be directly linked to the impact of the Bollywood and Hollywood culture coming through the cable and Internet.
It is time parents from Pakistan to Britain (especially) took stock of the very disturbing developments and did some deep reflection about possible countermeasures. Clearly, if the world is to remain a habitable and peaceful place for our children and the future generations, something has got to be done very differently.
One wishes dearly that all children, including the British ones, will be well looked after henceforth, because they are the future of humanity and that the world’s rulers will pay special attention to this issue. John Hay’s words make much sense:
I think that saving a little child
And bringing him to his own,
Is a darned sight better business
Than loafing around the throne.
S. QADRI
Karachi
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